Home cinema experts
 

Guys,

I purchased a new home cinema system as some may know

A Denon 1910 AMP and q acoustics 1010i 5.1 speaker package.
I have SKY HD conencted to it together with a PS3

Randomly through SKY I get all I can describe as a speaker pop on the centre speaker.
pop is a bit like the noise you get when you switch sources.

Only ever the centre speaker, and from what I can tell only on SKY HD.
Its been connected with HDMI & HDMI + optical - pop happened with both.

I rang Q-Acoustics - they reckon its not the speaker
I emailed Denon and this is what they said

Anyone else experienced somthing similar
Or does that Denon reply make any sense?

Cheers,
Shaun

I remember something that came with my New sony HD amp that said something about a problem with Sky and you had to update it?

my HD box is going thru my amp optically and haven't had it happen. So no help there! Doubt its the speakers nor amplifier if its OK thru other sources.

Anyone happen to know how to update sky hd firmware?

I used to have a similar problem with an Onkyo amp and a blu ray player, but the noises came through all speakers not just one. It was resolved by a firmware update on the AMP.

Does your Denon have updateable firmware? Is so, check it is up to date. There is a denon owners forum on AVForums.com Home

Also check the speaker cable on your centre speaker.

As far as I was aware, firmware updates on Sky happened automatically, but I'm not sure on that one.

are you pleased with it apart from the 'pop' sound, speakers are well worth it aren't they!

Yeah I'm very pleased with the setup apart from the "pop"

Perhaps its just because so, but paying attention the "pop" only happens at low volume and I'm convinced its only on sky hd

I'll investigate the firmware suggestion by Denon further

I know Sky software updates happen automatically, but firmware? Personally I'd go down the amp firmware upgrade.

Speaking (ahem) of which I've never updated my Onkyo.... wanders off to see how.....

hhhmmmm, how do you do it?

Depends which model you have Kieran. Some have ethernet connections to allow download directly from web, some have usb to do it via a pc, and some have neither and need to be sent back to Onkyo.

There is a button you can press on the remote (can't remember which!)that will tell you which firmware you have, you can then go onto Onkyo's website to see if there are any updates.

If you are not having any problems, I would leave it alone! I've never updated the firmware on my current Onkyo, an 875, because its always worked faultlessly.

I run SkyHD through a Denon 1909 (connected via HDMI only) and I've not had any problems like the one you describe.

Not possible, Sky HD can't output sound via hdmi.

I get sound, but not 5.1 - which hasn't been an issue as most of the HD programs I watch are sport. The OP said he gets the problem with or without the optical connection, so I didn't think his problem was 5.1 specific.

My apologies, I just assumed we were talking about 5.1.

to update firmware on a Sky box you need to ;

pull out power plug hold down backup button on the box and then plug back in power, keep holding backup down until all the lights on front come on. leave for about 15-20 mins and box should then be sat in standby, (just red light on)

this works because i used to fit them and we had to do it at every new install. :thumb:

Good man - thank you.

Don't suppose you know if it'll help with my "pop"?

On Saturday I'll recalibrate the system and do a firmware update on the sky hd box

don't know mate could just be switching circuits on your denon, sorry :confused:

We'll I've downloaded the firmward and recalibrated the Audssey settings as per Denon's technical department

Time will tell.

Something slightly confusing.
Previously calibrating the setup my amp complained about the centre speaker being out of phase.
This time is did not

And ba$tard.
As I'm typing this and sky is downloading settings the centre speaker just made that fcuking pop sound.

Ahhhhhhhhhh

Have you tried changing the speaker cable you use for the centre speaker?ie try the cable from your left or right speaker just to eliminate that from the equation.

Also link the centre channel output from Denon to your left or right speaker to exclude your centre speaker being at fault.

urban - is the popping sound coming through the speaker all the time when you're watching sky or is it only when changing between sources?

Excuse me for being a bit thick here, but how do I link
Do you mean swap the cables?

I haven't tried changing the cable - will do that tomorrow

Only when watching sky hd
It does resemble the sound you get when changing sources though
Doesn't happen all the time - completly random
I've only noticed it once in the past 3 or 4 hours for example

Thanks for all the replies guys

Cheers

Shaun

is it the sub turning off/on?

Urban what I mean is you need to exclude every other cause and then concentrate on the sky box and amp

1) Exclude the speaker cable as faulty by using another length of speaker cable.

2) Exclude the speaker being at fault by connecting the centre channel output of the Denon to the left speaker, as you usually would with speaker cable. Your centre speaker is now not connected to anything.
If the abnormal sound now also starts to come through the left speaker, you know it wasn't a fault with the centre speaker.

That then only leaves the amp or sky at fault. Just remind me, have you watched blu ray films through the amp?

No - definately not.

OK, we'll I've replaced the centre cable speaker and I'll just take it from there.

Yes - I've watched blu ray via PS3 and haven't noticed anything.

If I hear the noise again i'll swap speakers as suggested

do you get a flicker/flash on the screen when you get the noise?

No.

But touch wood since changing the cable I haven't heard the noise :)